Post by beded on Apr 18, 2007 12:11:03 GMT -6
Prayer of thanksgiving and dedication
April 22, 2007
Great and Living Lord,
We extol you for you have drawn us up and did not let our foes rejoice over us.
When we cried for help, you have healed us.
You have brought our spirits from darkness, and restored us to life.
And we sing your wonderful praises, giving thanks to your holy name.
For your anger is but for a moment and your favour is for a lifetime.
Spirit God,
You help us and you are gracious unto us:
You turn our mourning into dancing;
You transform our funeral clothes and clothe us with joy.
Even when this world looks as though hate has triumphed over love
And death over life, you rush into our lives.
You meet us on that Damascus Road, blinding us with your glory:
That blazing beam of your glory:
a death defeating, hate-smashing power overtakes us
And for that we give you thanks.
God of Ananias and charcoal fire-redemptions, we praise you for second chances.
Both Paul and Peter turned away from you, but you forgave them and led them to holy lives of luminous servanthood.
Lamb of God, shine your light on us, so that we may be slow to condemn and quick to forgive both others and ourselves.
Loving Spirit, This world sings of your wonder. From the mountains and valleys, from the seas and shores, from the rivers and their plains. Lord, how can we not stand in awe at your goodness, at your magnificent, creative, life-giving nature?
We give thanks for life. That we have a time on this earth to do good and to walk humbly with you. We thank you for all who help us in that walk: families, friends, strangers, even our enemies.
Almighty God, whom we have now seen face to face in Jesus.
Speak always to us your word of peace, that our inner turmoil may be stilled, our eyes opened, our ears alerted, our beings prepared to make faithful response.
May these, our gifts, be authentic and given in joy, so that the world may come to know your glory and dominion and love, coming to respond with joyous obedience to your Word, our Lord God, who taught us to pray:
Loving God,
You are the good shepherd and you will feed your flock like a shepherd.
You will gather your lambs and carry them into your heart.
You (meticulously) count every hair on our heads and leave no detail of our lives untouched.
In sadness, you fix us in our faith.
In loss, you harvest in us hope.
In death, you lunge forward in love, a love stronger than death.
Therefore, we praise you and we give thanks that nothing in this life
Or the next can separate us from that death conquering love.
For it is you alone who turn the shadow of death into the brightness of morning light.
Today we give thanks for Leslie,
Thanking you for his life, a beautiful life of gentleness and humility.
Reflecting his ever-present gratitude to you and others,
We give you thanks for his faith, strong and sure.
We know and we rejoice that he believed in you, his Lord.
In loud and proud voice he trusted you, fearing not what men say,
He laboured for you night and day.
We give you thanks that by your grace and through this pilgrim’s faith,
He has been returned to communion with you and with all pilgrims, before him,
Including Olive, with whom he now worships you and no other.
We praise your holy name that Mum and Dad now live eternally in your house.
Now that Grandad is at rest, dry our tears and make us joyful for what he has gained.
We pray for those who feel his absence most:
May they and all who knew and loved your servant Leslie trust
And be reassured by your promises.
Let the precious memories of him – at home in the quiet room, his meticulous manner, his holiday planning -- bring smiles to our faces.
Let us laugh and be warmed when a random memory of him enters our minds in the days to come.
As long as we walk this earth, may the pages of his prayerful life live close to our hearts,
As we know he is now in your heart.
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
April 22, 2007
Great and Living Lord,
We extol you for you have drawn us up and did not let our foes rejoice over us.
When we cried for help, you have healed us.
You have brought our spirits from darkness, and restored us to life.
And we sing your wonderful praises, giving thanks to your holy name.
For your anger is but for a moment and your favour is for a lifetime.
Spirit God,
You help us and you are gracious unto us:
You turn our mourning into dancing;
You transform our funeral clothes and clothe us with joy.
Even when this world looks as though hate has triumphed over love
And death over life, you rush into our lives.
You meet us on that Damascus Road, blinding us with your glory:
That blazing beam of your glory:
a death defeating, hate-smashing power overtakes us
And for that we give you thanks.
God of Ananias and charcoal fire-redemptions, we praise you for second chances.
Both Paul and Peter turned away from you, but you forgave them and led them to holy lives of luminous servanthood.
Lamb of God, shine your light on us, so that we may be slow to condemn and quick to forgive both others and ourselves.
Loving Spirit, This world sings of your wonder. From the mountains and valleys, from the seas and shores, from the rivers and their plains. Lord, how can we not stand in awe at your goodness, at your magnificent, creative, life-giving nature?
We give thanks for life. That we have a time on this earth to do good and to walk humbly with you. We thank you for all who help us in that walk: families, friends, strangers, even our enemies.
Almighty God, whom we have now seen face to face in Jesus.
Speak always to us your word of peace, that our inner turmoil may be stilled, our eyes opened, our ears alerted, our beings prepared to make faithful response.
May these, our gifts, be authentic and given in joy, so that the world may come to know your glory and dominion and love, coming to respond with joyous obedience to your Word, our Lord God, who taught us to pray:
Loving God,
You are the good shepherd and you will feed your flock like a shepherd.
You will gather your lambs and carry them into your heart.
You (meticulously) count every hair on our heads and leave no detail of our lives untouched.
In sadness, you fix us in our faith.
In loss, you harvest in us hope.
In death, you lunge forward in love, a love stronger than death.
Therefore, we praise you and we give thanks that nothing in this life
Or the next can separate us from that death conquering love.
For it is you alone who turn the shadow of death into the brightness of morning light.
Today we give thanks for Leslie,
Thanking you for his life, a beautiful life of gentleness and humility.
Reflecting his ever-present gratitude to you and others,
We give you thanks for his faith, strong and sure.
We know and we rejoice that he believed in you, his Lord.
In loud and proud voice he trusted you, fearing not what men say,
He laboured for you night and day.
We give you thanks that by your grace and through this pilgrim’s faith,
He has been returned to communion with you and with all pilgrims, before him,
Including Olive, with whom he now worships you and no other.
We praise your holy name that Mum and Dad now live eternally in your house.
Now that Grandad is at rest, dry our tears and make us joyful for what he has gained.
We pray for those who feel his absence most:
May they and all who knew and loved your servant Leslie trust
And be reassured by your promises.
Let the precious memories of him – at home in the quiet room, his meticulous manner, his holiday planning -- bring smiles to our faces.
Let us laugh and be warmed when a random memory of him enters our minds in the days to come.
As long as we walk this earth, may the pages of his prayerful life live close to our hearts,
As we know he is now in your heart.
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.